IRIS Module Analysis

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IRIS module “Teaching English language learners: effective instructional practices” addresses general instructional strategies which can be beneficial to students who are learning to speak English, levels of language proficiency and implications for assessing English language learners. The module also provides useful overall information about programs which support ELL students as well as general characteristics of ELL learners.
I personally enjoyed the module because it includes helpful pieces of advice about what teachers should know about students who are learning to speak English. I have learnt that in order to meet the needs of students who do not speak English and improve their educational outcomes, it is very important for a teacher …show more content…

Bennett adduces the research conducted by Dr. Jim Cummins, one of the world’s leading authorities on bilingual education and second language education. He believes “that children must attain cognitive academic language proficiency in their first language in all the school subjects before they are ready to learn these subjects in English”. (Bennett, 2015, p. 403) I have come to understanding that two years of education in Poland, ability to write and read in first language, were the main factors which helped my children to learn second language. However, it is important to know that becoming proficient in a language includes social and academic language (now, I know, the second type has been a cause of struggles for my children). Social language, also called basic interpersonal communication skills (BICS), refers to the type of language skills necessary to understand basic conversational English and ability to communicate in everyday social interactions. These social language skills are generally developed within approximately two years. Academic language, called cognitive academic language proficiency (CALP), is much different. CALP focuses on “complex language necessary for success in academic endeavors”. (The IRIS Center, 2011) It involves specialized vocabulary and concepts, it is needed to proficiently read texts and write …show more content…

Furthermore, I will differentiate instruction and adjust curriculum to meet the individual language and learning needs of my students. This will require me to provide a range of choices to access the content, provide texts at different level, set up classroom with learning centers, provide materials in different languages and a range of choices for students to practice what they are learning. I will allow students to demonstrate their understanding and learning as well as provide opportunities for students to practice their learning by encouraging them to use instructional supports and/or discuss what they are

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